Katie Price SLAMS UK airport checks and claims she did not have to present a negative COVID test when returning from whirlwind Portugal trip
- Last week, the model and her fiancé Carl Woods jetted to Portugal on £7 flights, after the country became one of the areas placed on the UK’s ‘green list’
- Following the trip, she uploaded a video showing the process of returning to the country, after jetting back to celebrate her 43rd birthday on Saturday
- Katie claimed she had not been put through stringent checks or been told to show a negative PCR tests, despite this being one of the conditions for return
Katie Price has slammed the measures placed in UK airports to protect against coronavirus, as she insisted she was not properly probed.
The model and her fiancé Carl Woods wasted no time in jetting off to Portugal on £7 flights, after the country became one of the areas currently placed on the UK’s ‘green list’, after the easing of lockdown on Monday 17 May.
Following the trip, she uploaded a video showing the process of returning to the country, after jetting back to celebrate her 43rd birthday on Saturday, however she was less than pleased with the government’s contingency plan.
Travellers returning from a Green List country must take a lateral flow test within 72 hours of your return flight, followed by a PCR test on or before the second day of your return. No need to self-isolate.
Here we are: Katie Price has slammed the measures placed in UK airports to protect against coronavirus, as she insisted she was not properly probed
Katie ensured she was one of the first stars to jet out of the country when she was permitted and she was then showing insights into the departure.
In the video on her Facebook, she filmed herself as she went through the widely isolated terminal, before joining her friend in reeling off the shortcomings.
Katie’s friend explained: ‘We just went through passport control and no-one asked to see our passenger locator form, no-one asked to see proof of a negative covid test.’
She then added: ‘All the measures that are supposed to be in place, don’t exist. They didn’t ask to see our PCR test when we landed…
Back again! The model and her fiancé Carl Woods wasted no time in jetting off to Portugal on £7 flights, after the country became one of the areas currently placed on the UK’s ‘green list’, after the easing of lockdown on Monday 17 May
Fun in the sun: Earlier this week, Carl gave fans a glimpse of the lavish villa he was staying at with Katie during their getaway to Portugal.
Sparse: Following the trip, she has now uploaded a video showing the process of returning to the country, after the jetting back to celebrate her 43rd birthday on Saturday, however she was less than pleased with the government’s contingency plan
‘If you look on that list some of those place are on the amber list and they are due to come in this hall where we are now which means we are going to cross paths and some of them need to quarantine.’
Her friend added: ‘Bags are on the same carousel as Abuja [the capital of Nigeria] – how mad is that.’
As they left the airport, Katie stated: ‘It’s really quiet, nothing like what we expected at all, nothing like what we expected at all.’
Portugal is just one of three European countries on Britain’s travel green list, and the only one where unrestricted land travel into mainland Europe is possible
Due to Portugal being on Britain’s ‘green list’, it means people do not have to quarantine unless their Covid test, which is required to be taken on or before day two upon arrival home, comes back as positive.
It has been stated that travellers need to prove they have had both jabs or are immunised from having previously had the virus.
Alternatively, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure is likely to be accepted. These details, including documentation required, are being fine-tuned.
A look around: Sharing a clip of the holiday rental’s grounds on Instagram, Carl said: ‘Good morning. Look at this place. Unreal.’
THE REQUIREMENTS
The below rules apply whether or not you have been vaccinated.
GREEN LIST: You must take a lateral flow test within 72 hours of your return flight, followed by a PCR test on or before the second day of your return. No need to self-isolate.
AMBER LIST: Take a lateral flow test before return flight, then quarantine at home for ten days and take a PCR test on days two and eight — or use the Test to Release scheme, paying for a private test on day five to end quarantine early (you’ll still need to take a test on day eight).
RED LIST: Quarantine in government-approved hotel for ten days at a cost of £1,750.
Last week, Carl gave fans a glimpse of the lavish villa he was staying at with Katie during their getaway to Portugal.
Sharing a clip of the holiday rental’s grounds on Instagram, Carl said: ‘Good morning. Look at this place. Unreal.’
The former Love Island star revealed the sprawling property had a swimming pool, jacuzzi, BBQ and an impressive sun lounge area nestled under lavish greenery.
Katie said that she was thrilled to be away and told followers she was sorry the UK is rainy at the moment but that she was loving the sunshine abroad.
Katie and Carl shared a video of their arrival last Monday and a response to a news report, in which he revealed their flights cost £7.
The couple were clearly keen to get away as she posted the selfie showing them both on what appeared to be a busy Ryanair flight to Portugal. She penned the caption: ‘Yesss finally Carl Woods a gorgeous break!’
Amid the excitement from many, a slew of Boris Johnson’s top scientists have warned against socialising indoors and the ‘high risk’ of hugging friends because of the rise in Indian variant cases.
The Prime Minister urged families to adopt a ‘heavy dose of caution’ and a cabinet colleague encouraged revellers to avoid ‘excessive drinking’ with ministers at loggerheads over whether to extend lockdown beyond June 21.
There was an eight per cent rise in infections last week.
Freedom day: They wasted no time in jetting off to Portugal on £7 flights, one of the countries currently on the UK’s ‘green list’, after the easing of lockdown restrictions
Honest: In the video on her Facebook, she filmed herself as she went through the widely isolated terminal, before joining her friend in reeling off the shortcomings
Which European countries are welcoming UK tourists back?
Overseas travel is restarting in Europe as vaccine drives gather pace and Covid infections fall.
Britons are now allowed to holiday abroad after the government repealed a law banning non-essential travel abroad.
The UK is using a traffic light system to determine who has to quarantine when they get home, but that is only part of the puzzle – holiday-makers will also have to find a country willing to let them in.
So, where in Europe is allowing UK tourists to visit?
Portugal
A favourite destination of UK sun-seekers, Portugal also has the distinction of being one of a few countries included on the government’s travel ‘green list’ meaning people do not have to quarantine after arriving home.
After some flip-flopping on the issue, Portugal agreed to allow British arrivals into the country starting on Monday.
All arrivals will have to take a PCR test no more than 72 hours beforehand, and bring the negative results with them to be allowed into the country.
Iceland
Visitors from any foreign nation are being allowed into the country provided they can show proof of vaccination or a previous Covid infection.
Tourists then have to take a PCR test on arrival and wait in their hotel for the results, but border authorities say this will be no longer than 24 hours and is usually over in five or six hours.
There is a complicated list of exemptions for those who are not vaccinated, but it is unlikely that most people will qualify.
Iceland also has the benefit of being on the UK’s green list, meaning you won’t need to quarantine after arriving home.
Greece
Since April, Greece’s borders have been open to foreign arrivals provided they can show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure or that they have been fully vaccinated with an EU-approved Covid jab.
Arrivals also need to complete a passenger locator form including details of where they have travelled and where they are staying so it can be used by test and trace authorities in the case of an outbreak.
Croatia
Tourists are welcome to travel provided they have taken a negative PCR test within 48 hours of departure, have evidence of previous infection, or are fully vaccinated.
Arrivals will also need to provide evidence that they have paid for accommodation within the country – which can include campsites – or own property there.
Travellers are also required to complete a form, which can either be done on arrival or in advance online.
Cyprus
The Mediterranean island is welcoming tourists provided they have been fully vaccinated, can show evidence of a previous infection or have taken a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure.
Travellers also need to register for a flight pass no later than 24 hours before departure.
For those using a PCR test to get into the country, details of the test will need to be entered into the online form, meaning they will have to plan the timing of the test carefully.
Turkey
Despite the country being in almost-total lockdown, Turkey is allowing tourists in without a PCR test or evidence of vaccination.
Tourists are largely exempt from the lockdown rules – which have confined Turks to their homes for weeks – while hotels and other businesses involved directly in tourism have been allowed to remain open.
However, many other businesses – such as shops and restaurants – remain closed. City streets are also deserted, which could be a blessing or a curse, depending on your idea of a good holiday.
Other major European tourist destinations have also begun laying out plans to let tourists back in, though have not finalised them yet. They are…
Italy
Prime Minister Mario Draghi said last week that Italy plans to run its own ‘green pass scheme’ which would allow tourists in from any country provided they are vaccinated, have previously been infected, or have tested negative.
Mr Draghi said the scheme would be in place by ‘mid-May’, raising hopes that it might be ready in time for Britain’s rules to relax on May 17.
But since his initial announcement, no further details have been published leading to frustration and confusion among those hoping to travel.
France
Currently, France is allowing people into the country for non-essential reasons provided they have a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival.
However, all UK arrivals must also self-isolate for seven days after arriving or face a £1,000 fine – ruling out a large amount of tourist travel.
Plans are in the works to drop the self isolation requirement, with Emmanuel Macron giving a date of June 9 for the rules to change.
Under the new plans, all visitors would have to obtain a Pass Sanitaire, essentially a green certificate with evidence of a negative Covid test or vaccination required to qualify.
Like the UK’s roadmap, France’s unlocking requires infections to be falling in order to progress, meaning it could be called off or delayed.
Cases are currently declining in the country, though at a very gradual pace.
Spain
Fernando Valdes, Spain’s tourism minister, laid out his plans for reopening the tourist economy last month and predicted the country will be ready to welcome back foreign arrivals in June.
Like other countries, entry would be dependent on some kind of green pass scheme requiring evidence of vaccination, a past infection, or negative test taken shortly before travel.
Valdes said a pilot scheme would run throughout May and that Spain would be ‘ready to receive visitors in June’.
No further details have been given.
Other European nations are currently not allowing tourists in, and have not announced plans to allow it.
This includes Germany, which has made it illegal for companies to transport people there for non-essential purposes.
Others nations which ban non-essential travel include the likes of Norway, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
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